Chapter Twenty Eight

Overwhelmed

After being home for a week, Lucas felt that he was ready to go back to school. He still wasn't one hundred percent healed, but he had to get out of that house and away from his mother. She was great and he loved her, but he could only take so much hovering. She was constantly in his face wanting to take care of him. Brooke really wasn't any better. He loved spending time with her, he really did, but she was just as bad as his mother. He wanted things to go back to the way they had been before he screwed up, but they didn't. She wouldn't even touch him. She said he was still healing and didn't want to hurt him. He tried telling her she wouldn't, but it fell on deaf ears. Every time she was around him she'd treat him like he was glass. She didn't want to do anything that might cause him to break. He had to admit it was getting pretty frustrating.

Lucas made his way to his locker and was surprised to see Peyton standing there waiting for him. He was about to turn around and forget going to his locker, when she turned and saw him. He saw what looked like a smile cross her face. He very slowly made his way to her, wanting to put off talking to her for as long as possible."Uh, hey Peyton. What are you doing here?"he wanted to make sure that she knew without a doubt that they no longer were on the best of terms.

"I know this is a little weird, me waiting for you, but I saw you around the past few days that you've been back and I thought it was time we talked."

There's nothing to talk about Peyton."

"Lucas you don't even know the half of what there is to talk about."

"Maybe not, but then again I really don't care to know."

"Lucas this is hard enough for me already, please don't make it worse."

"I don't know what your talking about Peyton. I'm not trying to make anything worse."

"Okay. I just wanted to come and tell you that I am sorry for everything I did to you and Brooke. It was all petty and childish and I deeply regret it. If I could, I would take it all back. I hope that you can find a way to believe me, even though Brooke doesn't."

"She has every right not to Peyton."

"Yeah, I know and that's why I haven't pushed her, but you, I really want you to believe me. It would mean the world to me if you did."

Lucas shook his head." I don't know what to tell you. I know that I am part of the reason Brooke and you have problems and I hate that, but then again you did a lot of hateful things on your own. I don't know if I can believe that your truly sorry for them."

"Fine, you have every reason to be skeptical, but there's something important you should know. It's really hard for me to say this, but..."she paused trying to find the right words to say what needed to be said.

"Come on Peyton, spit it out. What is so important that you need to tell Lucas?"asked Brooke coming up behind Lucas, having heard what Peyton just said.

"Oh, hey Brooke. I was just talking to Lucas."she said with a smile.

"Yeah, that I can see. So come on, don't leave me in suspense. What is so important?"she turned to look at Lucas."He doesn't mind that I hear, do you baby?"he shook his head."See. So what is it Peyton?"

Yes she was about to tell Lucas everything, but now she completely lost her nerve. There was no way she could tell them together. If she did, who knew how it would turn out. She knew she had to tell both of them, just not together."It's nothing really. I just wanted to see if Lucas was okay."she turned to Lucas."Are you okay? What you went through must have been tough, dislocating your shoulder and the broken arm, not to mention the emergency surgery. Wow. I'm surprised your even upright."

"Well he's fine, as you can see, so you can stop acting like you give a damn."Brooke was upset that Peyton was standing there acting as if everything was fine.

"I do care. Even after everything that I have done to you, you know that the one thing that always stayed the same was the fact that I did care about him."

"Are you done with your rant? Because if you are, can you leave?"

Peyton shook her head."Fine, I'll go. I just want both of you to know that I'm really sorry for everything."she gave them one last look and then turned and walked away.

Brooke turned to Lucas."God, can you believe her? She has some nerve trying to talk to you after everything she did."

Lucas looked at her."I really wish you wouldn't have done that."

Brooke's eyes widened."Why? Don't tell me you actually wanted to talk and forgive her."

"No, I didn't, but she said that she really needed to tell me something important."

"What could she possibly have to tell you Lucas?"

"I don't know. It could be anything."

"And it could be nothing at all."

"I just don't want to be blind sided by her later."

"You won't. There was nothing she needed to tell you. She just wanted to be around you, that's all."

"I hope your right."

"Aren't I always?"she said with a smile.

"Whatever you say Brooke."said Lucas pulling her to him and capturing her lips with his own. They stayed there by his locker kissing. God how he wanted more of her.

Before the kiss could turn into something more Brooke pulled away."Mmm, you are such an amazing kisser Broody. I could totally get lost in you."

"That's what I like to hear. Why don't we skip the rest of the day and go to your house? I miss you Brooke."

"And I miss you."she said wrapping her arms around his neck."I would love nothing more than to go back to my house and be with you, but you know I can't."he looked at her not knowing what she was talking about."There is a game tonight and I can't cheer if I don't attend school for the full day."

He nodded."Right, the game."

"I know you don't really care about the game tonight, but I do and I have to be there."

"Then go, but don't expect me to go and cheer you on."he said pulling out of her grasp, without looking at her.

"I wasn't expecting that Lucas."she knew it had to be hard on him, not being able to play tonight. She wasn't going to get upset with him for taking it out on her."Look, since we can't leave now, do you want to hook up after the game?"

"I don't know. Are you sure you won't be too busy to spend time with me?"

She let out a sigh."Lucas come on. Don't act like this."

"Act like what?"asked Lucas, knowing full well what she was talking about.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about. I'm sorry you got into that accident and I'm sorry you broke your arm and can't play, but I'm still the captain and I have to be there."she saw that he still refused to look at her."You know what? Never mind. I gotta go."she turned and started to walk away, but Lucas grabbed her arm, stopping her."What Lucas? Your not done trying to make me feel bad?"

He took a deep breath and let it out."I'm sorry. I know I'm acting like a huge jerk. I hate the fact that I can't be there tonight playing, but that's no excuse to be taking it out on you. Of course you have to be there. I have no right to try and make you feel guilty for going."

"You know I'd rather be with you, but I already missed one game when you were in the hospital. I can't miss another."

"I know. I'm really sorry. Can you forgive me?"he took her hands in his.

She gave him a half smile."I don't know. What are you going to do for me?"

"What ever you want."

"Well I want for you to go with me to the party after the game."

"Brooke..."

"I know your probably a little nervous, seeing how the last party ended for you, but I'll take care of you tonight. We'll both stick with soda."

"It's not that Brooke."

"Then what is it?"

"I'm just not ready to party with the guys right now. It's hard enough knowing there's a game tonight. I don't feel like helping them celebrate when I did nothing to to help in the game."

She nodded."Okay. How about we meet up after the game at the cafe and we go from there?"

"Your okay with not going to the party?"asked Lucas skeptically.

"Yes. As long as I'm with you I don't care where I'm at. Besides your looking pretty healed."she smirked.

"I hope that means what I think it means."he pulled her closer to him and rested his arm on her hips.

"I don't know, we'll see. Now lets get to class or we'll be late."Lucas closed his locker and they made their way to second period.

Brooke quickly changed after the game. A little part of her still wanted to go to the party, but in the end she just really wanted to spend time with Lucas. There had been a little tension between them this past week. It had been her fault though. She knew Lucas was getting a little frustrated with her hovering over him, but not really getting close enough for anything to happen. Sure she missed being with him, but she just didn't want to hurt him.

She put her uniform in her gym bag and zipped it up, throwing the strap over her shoulder.

Theresa stopped her as she was about to exit the locker room."Bye Brooke. I'll see you at the party later right?"

She shook her head."No, not tonight."

"What? Your not going? A party isn't a party without Brooke Davis. You have to come."

"I'm sorry. I want to, but Lucas just wants it to be me and him tonight."

"Oh, I get it now."said Theresa cocking up an eyebrow.

"So you and Lucas got back together?"asked Kelly walking up to the two girls.

Brooke turned to her."Yeah, about three weeks ago."

Kelly nodded."Good for you. We all knew it was only a matter of time until that happened. You two belong together."

Brooke smiled. Kelly was being nice, when she could have been a bitch.Kelly also liked Lucas."Thank you and we do, don't we?"said Brooke with a laugh."I hope you guys have fun tonight. I should be going. I have to meet Lucas in like ten minutes."

"Have fun."said Theresa.

Brooke rolled her eyes at her and walked out to her car. She had actually had fun tonight. For some reason she thought it was going to be bleak, but it wasn't. There was no tension, probably because Peyton decided to be a no show, which didn't bother her at all. Having Haley on the squad was definitely a plus. Sure she still had a lot to learn, but they had so much fun together. It was a shame it had taken them this long to become friends.

She quickly parked when she pulled into the cafe and walked in. Lucas must not have heard the bell above the door jingle because he didn't turn around. She took this opportunity to sneak up behind him and scare him. She grabbed both his sides and screamed."RAH!"

Lucas practically jumped out of his seat."Damn it Brooke. You scared the hell out of me."

She couldn't help but laugh. This was definitely the funniest thing she'd seen.

"You think that was funny?"asked Lucas. Brooke nodded still laughing."Okay, I'll give you something to laugh about."he got up off his seat and started to tickle her.

Brooke was now laughing hysterically. She was able to get out of his grasp easily, since he only had one good arm."Okay, Lucas stop. It wasn't funny. I'm sorry."

"Good."he took his seat at the counter."So how was the game? Did we win?"he didn't know why he asked that, of course they won, they always won.

She stopped laughing."Are you sure you want to hear about that?"

"I asked, didn't I?"

"Okay, well yes we won. 67-42."

"That's good, but if I was there our score would have been in the 90's."said Lucas matter of factly.

"Oh you don't think too highly of yourself huh?"

"Hey I'm just stating a fact."he said as he shrugged.

"Sure you are. So what are we doing tonight?"

"I don't know? Do you want to go out? We could just go to my house. My mom was going to Keith's when I left."

"We could do that."

"Or I could take you out if you want."he offered.

"No, it's okay. I'd rather go back to your house. We'll go out tomorrow or something."

"That's fine by me."he got up off the counter."Lets go."

"Did you bring a car?"

"No I walked."

"Okay, well I guess we're taking my car."she grabbed him by the hand and led him out.

Thank you for all the reviews. I love each and every one of them. I especially want to say thanks to Laneta C. Thanks for reading the story even though your a die hard Leyton fan. I'm glad I converted you to Brucas even if for only this story. I hope you continue to read it. I know this was a short chapter. The next one will be a bit longer. I hope everyone liked this chapter. Please let me know what you think. Read and review! Thanks.

Coming up:

Karen and Keith get caught in an awkward position.

Some Brucas loving.("R" rated chapter)

Brooke gets a surprise on her lawn.